Joelinton suffers injury ahead of Sunday's game against West Ham
Newcastle United are gearing up for their final home game of the season on Sunday (it's almost over!). West Ham come to town hoping to stave off relegation in the 5:30pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.
It's a strange one for many Newcastle fans on Sunday. Obviously, we'd love to sign off the home season with a win, but there's a large section of the fanbase that would sacrifice our own glory if it helped West Ham condemn Tottenham Hotspur to the Championship.
Eddie Howe will not be thinking that way, though, obviously, and will be putting together a team to win the game on Sunday. At least, we hope that's what he's doing; it's been hard to tell this season.
There were some concerns over the fitness of Lewis Hall ahead of this one after the young full-back had to have treatment on the pitch a couple of times in the game against Nottingham Forest.
Lewis Hall is fine, but Joelinton could have an issue
Eddie Howe kicked off his Friday morning press conference with reassurances over Hall's fitness, but did admit that Joelinton is a doubt for Sunday's game.
"Lewis [Hall] is fine, he has trained this week.
"We have a doubt over Joelinton who has picked up a slight thigh problem, so we will assess him over the next couple of days. No changes to the other injuries."
Howe's team selection will be interesting
Beyond any injuries, Howe's team selection could be very indicative of what to expect in the summer, more in terms of who isn't selected than who is.
Eddie Howe admitted after the Forest game that his team selections of late have been with the future in mind, taking a look at the players he expects to still be here next season.
That came as a direct response to questions around Anthony Gordon's lack of involvement, suggesting that the winger is on his way out of Newcastle.
With it being the final home game, though, could Eddie Howe give Gordon and Kieran Trippier one last run out at St James' Park as a way to say goodbye? We'll see on Sunday.
